Summer Reading registration begins May 18!
Working together, kindness and community highlight this year’s summer reading program at Mary Cotton Public Library. MCPL will host a variety of events and activities that support the program’s theme of “All Together Now.”
Readers of all ages can explore working together during this summer’s reading program. The program runs May 18 to Aug. 11. Summer Reading is a great way to keep children engaged, maintain skills over the summer and encourage learning and growth through reading and new experiences. It’s free for children of all ages to participate.
Reading Challenges
Readers are divided into three age groups (age zero through second grade, third through fifth grade and sixth through 12th grade). Each age group has a goal to inspire reading all summer long. Children must read and log the specified number of books. Everyone who completes their first goal will receive a Pizza Hut gift certificate. After completing their first goals, children can work toward subsequent goals and earn tickets to put into a prize drawing. Some of the “ticket prizes” include items and gift cards donated by JoyPop Print Shop, Hiawatha Creamery, Sabetha Health Mart, Downtown Coffee Co., A&W Restaurant, Sycamore Springs Whitetail Ranch, Sabetha Greenhouse and The Traveling Art Teacher, an autographed KSU hat and more!
Weekly Programs
Mark your calendars for a full schedule of events this summer! Regular programming will run through the month of June and conclude with a special Summer Reading Celebration in July.
Storytime: 10 a.m. Tuesdays — Stories with themes of friendship, gardening, music, community and working together. Storytime is geared to Pre-K, but all ages are welcome.
Picnic in the Park: 11:30 a.m. Wednesdays — Bring your lunch and enjoy a special themed program.
Explore and Crafting: 1:30 p.m. Thursdays — Learn about and explore symbiotic relationships and create a craft. These sessions are designed for elementary students who just completed second grade and up.
Other Events
Summer Reading Kick-off in the Park: 11:30 a.m. Wednesday, May 31, featuring storyteller Priscilla Howe, a former children’s librarian, who is now a full-time storyteller and puppeteer. She travels around the country and abroad, telling stories in schools, libraries, conferences, festivals and special events.
STEAM Lessons with Brown County Extension Office: 3 p.m., select Mondays — The Brown County Extension Office will send an intern to MCPL to present a STEAM activity for school age children. The list of activities will be announced at a later date. Sign up in the library. Dates are June 5, June 12, June 19, June 26, July 17, July 24 and July 31.
Summer Reading Celebration: 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, July 12. To conclude the summer reading program, Friends of the Mary Cotton Public Library is sponsoring a celebration that includes food vendors, games and fun. Drawings for the summer reading ticket prizes will be held at this free event.
Registration
Registration for “All Together Now” opens Thursday, May 18. It is free and open to children ages 0-18. Sign up online at www.sabethalibrary.org/summer-reading or in person at the library, 915 Virginia Street.
All programs are free of charge.
For more information, visit the MCPL website at www.sabethalibrary.org/summer-reading, email info@sabethalibrary.org, follow @MaryCottonPublicLibrary on Facebook and Instagram, visit in person at 915 Virginia Street or call 785-284-3160.
The library’s hours are 9:30 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday and Wednesday; 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Thursday and Friday; and 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.